Though there is no recent quarterback from the Auburn football program that stands out quite the way Cam Newton did, fans are still split on all-time QB rankings. From Pat Sullivan to Jason Campbell to Nick Marshall, the list spans many different eras of college football.
With Newton at the top and Patrick Nix coming in at the #10 spot on the original list, many fans were of the opinion it was the middle of the list that needed moving around.
Much controversy was situated around Twitter user All Aubarn All Day’s decision to place Brandon Cox at the #9 spot. The starting quarterback for Auburn football from 2005-2007 went 3-0 against Alabama and ended his three-year career on the Plains with impressive numbers:
"He finished his career second all-time at Auburn in pass attempts (927), third in passing yardage (6,959), passing yardage per game (158.16), pass completions (550), pass completions per game (12.500) and touchdown passes (42), fourth in completion percentage (.593) and total offense (6,543), fifth in touchdowns responsible for (46) and seventh in yards per attempt (7.507) and passing efficiency (130.44)."
Many think that Cox should be much higher on the list, while some think that Nick Marshall should fall from his #3 spot. Marshall was a two-year starter for Gus Malzahn after transferring from Garden City CC:
I appreciate Nick. But what he did, he can probably only do in Gus' first 2 seasons. Most of these other guys could play QB for any team at any time. Nick can't. Drop him to 10. Move Craig to 3. Then move Reggie to 5. Reggie Slack is the most under appreciated QB in AU history.
— Jeremy Michael (@OnlyOneRomey) July 16, 2021
Another point of contention? Jarrett Stidham’s rating of #7. Some believed that Stidham should have been kept off the list completely despite the fact that he’s currently on the New England Patriots and he put up pretty great numbers in his two years on the Plains:
He’s #6 in career passing yards and TDs at Auburn in 2 seasons. 63.6 completion %. We don’t have the greatest pool of QBs to choose from but Stidham is undoubtedly top 10.
— Kyle (@AllAubarn) July 16, 2021
Most seem to agree that Cam Newton belongs at the top of the list, but as for the rest, it depends on what factors are going into the rankings.